ESA Support group and dental charges

Hello

Wonder if someone can share some knowledge regarding dental charges in scotland please.

I receive Contribution based ESA and I am in the Income related Support group, for some reason I thought my dental charges we're covered, but have been advised by the NHS Fraud Team that I am incorrect and I also have a bill for £368.

Fair's fair I guess, but I genuinely have mistaken this as I thought I would be eligible for free dental care, and still think it doesn't make sense to me.

Is there experts out there who could confirm where i stand with this or provide any advice for me please?

Thanks in advance,

Hi MSer, I am sorry that you have found yourself in this position

It sounds to me as if you are rather confused about contributary and income-related ESA. You say that you are on 'contributary ESA' and the 'income-related Support Group'. Both WRAG and Support Group can be either contributory or income-related. To make things even more confusing, it is possible to be on contributary ESA with an income related top-up - but this depends entirely on your income, not wich group you are in.

As far as free dental treatment etc (and prescriptions for people in England), this is only automatic for those on income-related benefit, not those on contributary ESA.

The crux of your situation is whether you are on contributary or income-related ESA, so you should check your award letter to find this out.

It sounds as if you also need to get yourself some legal representation, try and find someone who understands welfare law or they will be as confused as you are!

I hope this helps, please come back to this thread if you have any further questions.

Thanks for your quick reply, think im even more confused though

At the bottom of my letter it says (word for word)

"Your income related amount is £105.05 less £0.00 so you would have been entitled to £105.05

However because you are entitled to contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance we will pay you £105.05"

The support group seems to be an income related add on of £34.05 which is included in the £105.05 total.

Tbh...I'm begining to think of my self as a mug for ever paying National Insurance, its caused me no end in problems over the past year ...live and learn i guess

hi try phoning 0800 22 44 88 and ask for a form HCS2 which is help with dental charges in scotland .hope this is able to help you regardes peter